Bengaluru Police on Sunday refused to allow Munawar Faruqui’s ‘standup comedy show’ in the city amid protests by Hindu right-wing outfits. Right-wing organizations have alleged that Faruqui had hurt the sentiments of Hindus in one of his programs. A senior police officer said, “Yes, we have denied permission. He will not perform in any public program today.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday posted a cryptic tweet in support of Munawar Faruqui in which he said hatred will not win. “Have faith. Don’t give up, don’t stop,” the Congress leader wrote with the hashtag ‘we stand united’. Though the Congress leader did not specify any context for his tweet, social media users linked his statement with comedian Munawar Faruqui’s hint that he will quit comedy after his Bengaluru show scheduled on Sunday was cancelled over law and order issue.
Earlier, sharing an emotional statement on social media, Faruqui confirmed that his event in Bengaluru on Sunday has been canceled in view of “threats of vandalism at the venue”. He said that “over 600” tickets for the event had been sold. The comedian said, “I think this is the end. My name is Munawar Faruqui and that’s been my time. You guys were wonderful audience. Goodbye, I’m done.” With this, Faruqui wrote that hatred has won, the artist has lost.
“Putting me in jail for the joke I never did to cancelling my shows, which has nothing problematic in it. This is unfair. This show has gained so much love from people in India irrespective of their religion. This is unfair. We do have censor certificate of the show and it’s clearly nothing problematic in the show. We called off 12 shows in the last two months because of threats to venue and audience,” the comedian said in the long Instagram post. However, Faruqui has been supported by artists like Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub and Swara Bhaskar. Ayub requested the comedian not to give up hope.